Should Balloons Be Banned? Balloons make most people think of celebrations, parties and special occasions. But some say they should be banned in favor of a cleaner environment. Balloon bans could become just as polarizing as plastic straw bans. It turns out that balloons are a major environmental hazard. They fly off into the sky and end up in our oceans. During a 2016 international ocean cleanup, participants collected enough discarded balloons to carry a 2,200-pound walrus. Balloon litter is also detrimental to sea life. Marine animals risk eating balloons and starving to death, or getting ensnared.